Rubber boot



(No Model.)

J. F. SHAW. RUBBER BOOT.

No. 371,221. Patented Oct. 11,1887.

WITNESSES INVENTOB.

ATTORNEYS.

N. PETR5. Fnam-Luho n hur. Washington, D C.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FIcE.

JAMES F. SHAW, OF J AOKSON, MICHIGAN.

RU'BBER BOOT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 371,221, dated October 11, 1887.

Application filed January 27, 1887. Serial No. 225,706. (No model.)

.To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. SHAW, of Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Rubber Boots, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide rubber boots which can be readily drawn on over felt, knit, or other boots, and which will fit the same snugly, all as hereinafter fullydescribed.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rubber boot on a felt boot embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a transverse section on line mm of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3 y of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a detail view showing one edge of the flap detached and thrown back.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a rubber boot, and B a feltboot in the same. In the front and back of the top of the leg at of the rubber boot I insert elastic gussets I). These gussets 2) permit the top of the leg to be enlarged when drawing on the boot over the felt boot, and they also serve to draw the top of the boot tightly and snugly around the leg-of the felt boot after it is on, so as to exclude snow and water.

0 are the straps for drawing on the boot.

0 These straps are secured on the inside of the top of the boot below the gussets. By thus securing the straps the contraction and expansion of the gussets will not be obstructed, the

gussets relieved of strain, a protection afiorded to said gussets, and the drawing on of the boot facilitated by rendering the inner surface of the leg, which is roughened by the insertion of the gussets, smooth.

In order to permit the rubber boot to be 40 drawn over a felt or other boot, they have heretofore been slit at the instep. These slits would close at first-that is, when the boots were new; but after they had been worn for some time the slits would gap open, permit- 5 ting the entrance of snow and water, and thereby rendering the boots worthless. To obviate this objection I secure the flap d over the slit 6 in the rubber boot, so as not only to afford the necessary expansion at the instep to permit the boot to slip on readily over the felt boot, but also to exclude snow and water. This flap (1 consists of a triangular piece of rubber provided with the pocket f at one edge and the extension, g. The straight edge of the flap is secured to the boot near the edge of theslit, as shown in the drawings, and the edge Ii of the pocket f is secured to the boot at the other side of the slit. By constructing the flap with the pocket f and securing it over the slit, as shown and described, the slit will be completely covered, and at the same time provision is made for enlarging the boot at the instep to permit of it being drawn on readily. Toadj ust the boot to the instep after it has been drawn on and prevent it from 6 slipping up and down at the heel I secure to the extension g of the flap the slotted plate 2 of the fasteningj, which is secured to the heel portion of the boot, as shown in Fig. 1. When the flap is held down by the fastening, it presents a smooth and neat appearance. The fiap d, if desired, may be made integral with the boot, and instead of the fastening shown any other suitable fastening may be employed. WVhile I have shown myimprovement applied to rubber boots, yet it is equally applicable to all other boots.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A boot having an opening at its instep covered by a flap having an inwardly-projecting portion, the said flap and the edge of the inwardly-projecting portion being secured to opposite sides of the opening, substantially as herein shown and described.

2. The combination, with a boot having an opening in its instep, of a flap secured to one edge of the said opening and provided with a pocket having its edge secured to the opposite side of the said slit, and means for holdingthe flap firmly against the leg of the boot to adjust the opening therein, substantially as herein shown and described.

3. The combination, with a boot having a slit at its instep, of the flap d, having the pocket f and secured to the boot at the edges of the slit, substantially as herein shown and described.

4. The combination, with a boot having a slit at its instep, of the flap d, provided with the pocketf and the extension 9, and the fastening z j, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. As an improved article of manufacture, a rubber boot provided with elastic gores b at the front and rear top portions of its leg,

'and with a flap, d, secured to the opposite edges of a slit in the instep to completely close the said slit, as set forth.

. JAMES F. SHAW. Witnesses:

J AMES GOULD, WV. R. BROWN. 

